Sadness surrounds Lambeau

There was supposed to be a ton of excitement at 1265 Lombardi Avenue on Monday as the Green Bay Packers returned from their well deserved bye week to formally open defense of their Super Bowl Championship by beginning preparations for the New York Giants in the NFC Divisional Playoff coming this Sunday.  Instead, it was a somber place as the news just kept getting worse.   Police in Oshkosh reported the 21 year old son of Offensive Coordinator Joe Philbin was missing.  Michael Philbin, a Ripon college student, was visiting friends in Oshkosh over the weekend but was last seen early Sunday morning.  Then came a report a body was found in the Fox River and by Monday night, Philbin's worst fears were realized. Identification was confirmed and the Packer coach had lost a son.  Philbin has taken a leave of abscence and head coach Mike McCarthy said the entire organization's prayers are with his long-time confidant and contigency plans are in place to deal with his departure from the team to deal with the loss.  Monday was also the day guard T.J. Lang was in Michigan to bury his 55 year old father who passed away last week.  McCarthy's press conference lasted all of five minutes and after taking a few questions about the Phiblin story, he unenthusiastically fielded queries about the Giants.  A Packers public relations employee then informed the assembled media the normal open locker room to visit with players was cancelled.  It will now be Wednesday afternoon, following practice when we'll get to hear from the team about the Sunday matchup.  The professionalism of the franchise will be tested but it will be nothing like the challenge facing Philbin and his family.